Do you shop more often or for longer periods at a business that has a nice landscape or shady trees in the parking lot? Is there a garden in your neighborhood that is beautiful and a joy for the entire community to see? Is there a public space, like a school, park or airport garden, that is well-maintained, clean, green and neat?

A recent study on the value of trees in Honolulu showed that healthy trees and plants are a bonus to business. People will actually shop longer and spend more if there are trees and gardens associated with the business and its parking area. For example, King Street has lots of colorful rainbow shower trees and other shady street trees. Beretania, in some stretches, has fewer trees, empty pukas where street trees should be, and is a less-popular destination for walkers and shoppers.

Did you know that for every dollar spent in tree planting and maintenance, we get back $2.98 in benefits? Trees give us almost a three-to-one return on our investment in caring professionally for them.

Many of us caring for loved ones and spending time in hospitals will note studies that show people with views of trees and plants, with living plants in waiting rooms, heal faster than those with barren view rooms and spaces. The award-winning gardens and large exceptional trees at The Queen's Medical Center are lush for a reason, cared for by expert landscaper Mark Gwinner and his dedicated groundskeeping staff.

Trees in home gardens save energy and keep us cool. They can also be edible, serving up mangoes, lychee and avocados. (This year's weather is great for lychee, by the way. I've seen them on trees around town that haven't fruited in years.) The benefits of trees far outweigh the extra work needed to water, rake and trim. (And raking is great exercise.)

You can help us recognize and celebrate gardens all over Hawai'i by nominating gardeners in four categories for the Betty Crocker Landscape Awards, sponsored by Scenic Hawaii.

The deadline for entry forms is May 22. You are asked to write briefly about the garden and who maintains it, give contact information such as a phone number or e-mail, fill out the form, send pictures of the garden and give brief background information if you know it.

Go to http://scenichawaii.org/bcawards.html to learn more and download an entry form. Mail entries to: Scenic Hawaii Betty Crocker Landscape Awards, P.O. Box 10501, Honolulu, HI 96816. E-mail entries to Bettycrockerawards@gmail.com.

Nominees and those who submitted nominations will be invited to a fun-filled awards ceremony at sunset on June 29, near the ocean. There, you'll meet like-minded people who think green trees are an asset for our islands, and learn more about plants and trees from expert volunteers and Scenic Hawaii members.